Coochbehar polling staff face chaos before Phase 2:Hundreds told to travel overnight to South Bengal booths without transport

Hundreds of polling personnel in Cooch Behar are facing severe logistical challenges ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, after being asked to report at distant polling locations in South Bengal within a very short time frame. 378 personnel asked to travel overnight According to sources, around 378 polling staff were issued notices on Monday morning around 10 am, directing them to reach their assigned booths in districts of South Bengal by 7 am the next day. The sudden instruction has triggered anxiety and anger among the personnel, who say the timeline is impractical. Short deadline triggers anxiety among workers Most of the staff argue that covering several hundred kilometres overnight without any official transport arrangement is nearly impossible. Many of them are employees of central government departments and claim the order was issued without proper planning. Staff approach district magistrate seeking help Demanding immediate transport support, hundreds of polling personnel approached the District Magistrate’s office in Cooch Behar on Monday, urging authorities to arrange special trains or buses. They warned that failure to do so could disrupt polling duties. As of now, the district administration has not confirmed any concrete steps, leaving the staff in uncertainty and distress. ​